Jurgen Klopp during Liverpool training
Reliable journalist: Klopp now personally wants YPOTY nominee with better assist rate than Robertson
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has greenlit the club’s pursuit of Aberdeen right-back Calvin Ramsey, according to The Athletic.
The lowdown
Ramsay is only 18 years old, but after making six appearances last season, he’s established himself in the first team this term.
He’s started 20 Scottish Premiership matches for Aberdeen in 2021/22 and was also selected for all six of their Europa Conference League qualifying matches last summer.
Under contract at Pittodrie until June 2024, Ramsay is valued at just £540,000 by Transfermarkt.
Liverpool may need a new back-up for Trent Alexander-Arnold if they opt to offload Neco Williams permanently following his loan move to Fulham. The Cottagers are said to be interested in landing the Welshman ahead of their first season back in the Premier League.
The latest
Journalist Caoimhe O’Neill reports that ‘Liverpool and Leeds both want to sign’ Ramsay.
‘Klopp himself was quick to approve’ the move, indicating that he’s impressed by the youngster.
However, one potential problem for the Reds is that Leeds ‘can offer him more game time’.
‘A big decision’ awaits for Ramsay between the Champions League finalists, where’d he be competing with Alexander-Arnold, and relegation-threatened Leeds, where the path to the first-team may be clearer.
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The verdict
Ramsay is certainly an impressive talent. He’s managed to contribute nine assists for the Dons this season, averaging one every 2.8 matches.
That certainly bodes well for a potential successor to Anfield assist king Alexander-Arnold. For reference, the Liverpool-born full-back is setting up a goal every 3.2 matches over the course of his PL career, compared to 4.2 for Robertson.
Ramsay will need to improve the defensive side of his game, with one of his former coaches noting that more ‘focus’ is required off the ball, but that may well come with time and with the coaching of Klopp or Jesse Marsch.
Aberdeen chairman Dave Cormack has said that he ranks in the ‘elite upper bracket’ of young right-backs, and tellingly, he’s been nominated for the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year award.
In other news, Kevin Campbell reacts to ‘absolutely massive’ news from Anfield.
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